Bumper bracket or support



Dec. 9, 1947. D. E. PEARSON BUMPER BRACKET OR SUPPORT Filed June 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l HIII'IHIIHI IN VEN TOR. flaz/adflfiearson,

Dec. 9, 1947. D. E. PEARSON 2 BUMPER BRACKET OR SUPPORT Filed June 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. flaz/Ldflj earaon,

Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,432,249 BUMPERBRACKET on s'UPPoiiT" David E. Pearson, Chicago, 111; Application June 24 1946, SerizilNo. 678,904

, 7 claims. 1

This invention relates generall to devices which may be clamped to objects of irregular configuratiori to furnish a support, and has particular reference to a damp which may be secured to a vehicle bumper of irregular configuration or cross-section and which will form a support for luggage, trailer hitches, fishing equipment or the like. 7

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a support for luggage, fishing equiprrieht such as' minnow buckets or the like, trailer hitches, which support may readily be attached to vehicle bumpers of varying shapes and configurations. V v V V I A further object is to'p'rovide a support adapted to be secured to an object of irregular configura tion, the support being of a universal type adapted to be interchangeable with objects of different configurations.

Still another object is to provide a support which maybe employed or used in pairs, and adapted to hold thereto a platform or the like upon which may be supported a variety of luggage, sport equipment, or the like.

Other obj ects of the invention will be apparent froma study of the description hereinafter taken with the drawings which show preferred embodiments of theinvention. It is understood, however, that the invention may take other forms, and that the scope of the invention is determined only by the claims subjoined In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a support according to the present invention, shown secured to a vehicle bumper, and showing a ball for a trailer hitch secured to the support;

Figure 2 is a front elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top View of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention, showing the invention as applied to a vehicle bumper of difierent contour.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the support according to the present invention is indicated generally by the ordinal IB and is shown as applied to a vehicle bumper I2. The support I0 comprises a horizontally extending member I4 in the form of a channel having side rails I6. The member I4 is adapted to be hooked to the bumper I2, and has secured at one end thereof a plate I 8 to which a pair of hooks 20 are secured by means of countersunk machine screws 22.

The other end of the member I4 and the rails I6 are provided with eyes 24 which hold a, pin 26. A brace member 28 in the form of a channel having side rails 38 has formed thereon an eye 32 which embraces the pin 26, thereby providing a hinged connection between the member I4 and the member 28.

The member 28 normally bears against the bumper I2 when the member I4 is in horizontal position as shown in Figure 1, and to this end means are provided for maintaining the position of the member 28 with respect to the member I4, arid as shown, the rails I6 have passing thereth'r'ough a pin 3'4,which supports at each end an eye-bow 36, each of which carries a spacing washer 38, and is riveted or headed over at its ends at 48. The threaded shank 42 of the eyebolt 36 passes through blocks 44 pin connected, as at 46, to the side rails 30 of the member 28. Nuts 48 are provided on each side of the block 44 for leck'ing the member 28 into position with respect to the horizontal member I4. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the member I4 may be hooked in a horizontal position at 28 to the upper edge of the bumper I2, that the brace member 28 may be pivoted into bearing engagement with the face of the bumper I2, and that the two members I4 and 28 may be locked into position relative to each other and the bumper I2.

Means are provided for causing the members I4 and 28 to be maintained firmly in engagement with the bumper I2, and to this end the lower edge of the bumper I2 has in hooking engagemerit therewith a member 58 provided with a hook 52 of substantially U-shaped cross-section forming a slot 54. The hook 52 thereby readily straddles the lower edge of the bumper I2 and readily accommodates bumpers of diiTerent configurations. The member 50 has adjustably connectedther'eto, by means of a pin 58, a member 56 which may be formed of two halves as shown. Adjustment of the angular position of the member 56 with respect to the member 58 is had by a series of radial holes 60 which co-operate with a pin 62 passing through a hole in member 55 and through one of the holes 60 in member 50.

A loop of flexible material 64, such as canvas webbing, is secured to the hook 52 at 65 and passes over a pin 66 spanning the side rails I6 of the member I4 and secured thereto in any convenient manner. The flexible material 64 also passes through a transverse opening or slot 68 in the web of the member 28. It will be apparent that the web of member 28 is also relieved at 'IU to provide clearance for the flexible material 64.

Means are provided for placing tension on the webbing 64 which will tend to rock the member I4 downward and the member 28 into firm engagement with the bumper I2, and as seen particularly in Figure 1, the member 56 supports a block 72 having a hole therein through which a threaded member 74 passes. The threaded member 7 3 supports at one end thereof a clamp 76 which grips the webbing 64. The other end of the threaded member 74 is engaged by a wing nut 78. It will be apparent that by drawing up the wing nut 78 that tension will be placed on the webbing 6d and that the hook 52 will tend to be rocked to engage the bumper I2 firmly, and at the same time, as has been explained, the member I l will tend to be rocked placing a thrust or bearing on the member 28, thereby holding the entire assembly into firm engagement with the bumper I2.

In order to insure that the entire assembly will be held together in the manner as above described irrespective of the condition of the webbing 6a or the tension thereon an adjustable link is provided between the members I l and 28 and the member 56. Accordingly, the side rails 38 of member 28 have welded thereto lugs 88 which have connected thereto, by means of a pin 82, a threaded link 35. The link 86 passes through a block 86 pivotally held by the member 55 and the other end of the link 85 has threaded thereto a wing nut 83. It will be seen that when the wing nut 86 is drawn up that member I4 tends to be rocked downward, causing member 28 to bear more firmly against the face of bumper I2, and that the member 56 will tend to be rocked upwardly to caus the hook 52 more firmly to engage the lower edge of the bumper I2. Obviously, should the webbing 64 fail for any reason, the link 8 lwill take over all the functions of the webbing 64.

The support I6 is shown with a ball 98 for a trailer hitch secured thereto by threading into a tapped hole 92. Obviously, a pair of supports can be spaced along the length of the bumper I2 and any platform can be conveniently secured at the tapped hole 92 whereby luggage of many kinds may be carried.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown the invention as applied to a bumper of different configuration. In the embodiment shown here, use is not made of the extra link for holding the members in firm engagement with the bumper. The support according to the embodiment of the invention in Figure 6 is indicated generally by the ordinal lit, and is shown as applied to a vehicle bumper IE2. The support II8 comprises a horizontally extending member I I l in the form of a channel having side rails H6 and adapted to be hooked to the upper edge of the bumper I I2 by means of a hook IZQ secured to the member He by countersunk machine screws or the hook may be secured to member I I4 in any other convenient manner.

The other end or" the member H4 and the rails H6 are formed into eyes IZ l which hold a pi I26. A member 28 in the form of a channel has side rails I36 and has formed thereon an eye I82 which embraces the pin I26, thereby providing a connection between the member I52 and the member I28.

The member I28 normally bears against the bumper i 52 when the member I I4 is in horizontal position, and to maintain this relative position the rails H6 support a pin I34, which supports at each end an eye-bolt I36, each of which is secured in position by screws I48 tapped into the pin I34. The threaded shank I42 of the eyebolt I36 passes through blocks I44 pin connected, as at I46, to the side rails I38 of the member I28. Nuts I48 are provided on each side of the block I 44 for locking the member I28 into position with respect to the horizontal member IM. It will be apparent from the above description, that the member IM- may be hooked in a horizontal position at I28 to the upper edge of the bumper II 2, that the member I28 may be pivoted into bearing engagement with the face of the bumper H2, and that the two members H4 and I28 may be locked into fixed position relative to each other and the bumper I I2.

Means are provided for causing the members IM and I28 to be maintained firmly in engagement with the bumper H2, and to this end the lower edge of the bumper II2 has in hooking engagement therewith a member I58 having thereon a substantially U-shaped hook I52.

A loop of flexible material I64, such as canvas webbing, is secured to th member I50 at I65 and passes over a pin I66 spanning the side rails II6 and secured thereto in any convenient manner.

The webbing I64 also passes through a transverse slot or opening I68 in theweb of the member I28.

Means are provided for placing tension on the webbing IE8 which will tend to rock th member Ilil downward and the member I28 into firm engagement with the bumper I I2, and as seen in Figure 6, the member I56 is bifurcated at H! to support pivotally a block I72 having an opening therein through which a threaded member I74 passes. The threaded member I74 supports at one end thereof a clamp I78 which grips the webbing I6 3. The other end of the threaded member I74 is engaged by a wing nut I78. It will be apparent that by drawing up the wing nut I78 that tension will be placed on the webbing I64 and that the hook I52 will tend to be rocked to engage the bumper II2 firmly and at the same time the member H4 will tend to be rocked forcing the member I28 into firm engagement with the bumper H2 at the side rails I36, thereby holding the entire assembly into firm engagement with the bumper II2.

As was the case with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the support according to Figure 6 may support a ball for a trailer hitch, or a pair of supports may be positioned along the bumper II 2 to which a platform may conveniently be secured to hold luggage or gear of any description.

While the invention has been described by way of two examples or embodiments, its scope is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown only, but by way of the claims here appended only.

I claim;

1. Supporting means of the class described adapted to be secured to a vehicle bumper comprising a substantially horizontally extending member in hooking engagement with an edge of said bumper, a member secured to said first member and bearing against the face of said bumper, means for locking the said first member in position relative to said second member, a third member hooked to the other edge of said bumper, flexible material secured to said third member and engagement with said first and second members, a member adjustable in position with respect to said third member, and means supported by said last named member and connected to said flexible material for maintaining the members in hooking and bearing engagement with said bumper in firm engagement with said bumper.

2. Supporting means of the class described adapted to be secured to a vehicle bumper comprising a substantially horizontally extending member in hooking engagement with an edge of said bumper, a member secured tosaid first member and bearing against the face of said bumper, means for locking the said first member in position relative to said second member, a third member hooked to the other edge of said bumper, flexible material secured to said third member and in engagement with said first and second members, a member adjustable in position with respect to said third member, means supported by said last named member and connected to said flexible material for maintaining the members in hooking and bearing engagement with said bumper in firm engagement with said bumper, and an adjustable link connecting said adjustable member to said second member.

3. A supporting bracket structure adapted to be mounted on an automobile bumper, comprising an upper member provided at its inner end with a hook shaped to engage the upper edge of said bumper, a lower member provided at its inner end with a hook shaped to engage the lower edge of said bumper, said members, except for said hooks, being disposed entirely outwardly beyond the bumper to which they are attached, means for drawing said hooks together to effect a clamping engagement with said bumper, a brace bar pivotally connected to said upper member near the outer end thereof, and adjustable means for positioning said brace bar so as to engage the outer face of said bumper whereby said structure is maintained in outwardly projecting position on said bumper.

4. A supporting bracket structure adapted to be detachably mounted upon an automobile bumper, comprising upper and lower members equipped with hooks for engaging the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the bumper, means connecting said members so as to prevent disengagement of said books from the bumper, a brace member adjustably connected to said upper member, and means for adjusting the position of said brace member into contacting relation with the outer face of said bumper to thereby support the outer end of said upper member in predetermined position, irrespective of the contour of said bumper.

5. A supporting bracket structure adapted to be detachably mounted on an automobile bumper, comprising upper and lower members provided at their inner ends with hooks for engagement with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said bumper, means for preventing separation of the inner ends of said members thereby preventing disengagement of said hooks from the bumper, a brace member pivoted to the outer end of the upper member and adapted to engage the outer face of the bumper, and an adjustable connection between said upper member and said brace member intermediate the ends thereof whereby the position of the brace member may be adjusted to maintain the outer end of the upper member at a predetermined elevation.

6. A supporting bracket for detachable connection to an automobile bumper, comprising hooked members constructed to engage with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of a bumper, a brace member connected to one of said members and adapted to engage the outer face of the bumper, means for adjusting the position of said brace member to thereby regulate the elevation of the outer end of said one member, and means connecting said hooked members so as to prevent disengagement of said members from the bumper.

7. A supporting bracket for attachment to an automobile bumper, comprising upper and lower members equipped with hooks for engagement with the upper and lower edges of the bumper, a brace member connected with the upper member and adapted to engage the outer face of the bumper, means for adjusting the position of said brace member to thereby adjust the height of the outer end of the upper member, and releasable means for drawing said hooked members together into clamping relation with the bumper, said structure being detachable from the bumper upon release of said means.

DAVID E. PEARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,528,268 Schlegel Mar. 3, 1925 1,657,190 Ballou Jan. 24, 1928 1,886,911 Schulman Nov. 8, 1932 2,142,365 McKee Jan. 3, 1939 2,204,824 Rock June 18, 1940 2,254,790 Benton Sept. 2, 1941 2,379,994 Schwinn July 10, 1945 

